Bus line jumper connecter



g- 16, 1932. A. L. VAN r-:MDEN

Bus LINE JUMPER CONNECTER Filed April 11. 1929 INVENTOR Aaron L.. l/anEmaen.

ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 16, 1932 v, UNirEDSTAT-ES" I PATENT i OFFICE -i AARON L. VAN or renuncian-nz, PENNSYLVANIA, AssIGNOR lfro Wns'rrm;`

HOUSE 'ELECTRIC' a. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION or PENNSYL- vANrA Y Appncatin ined April 11',

My irwentionv relates generally to eonnece ters for ,current conductors and more particular'ly7 to plug connecter-s or jumper heads of the protected type for bus or train-line jumpers'I y The' object of my invention, generally stated', is to provide plug-type c'onnectersfor bus-line jumpers that shalt be simple in con-V struction and economical to manufacturc.

A more specific' object of myinventiion is to provideV abus-line connecter having an aro protector which is retained in engagement with the falce of a receptacle unt-il thercfmtact members of vthe connecter andi the' receptacle i Other objects ofthe invention Will-become evident from theffolflowing description, taken in conjunctioniwith the drawing, in Whicln Figure 1 isa sectionallview, taken along the longitudinal axis of a preferredi formc o`t` my invention showing a plug connecter, ,having a springfbiased protector insertedY Within' a` buseline receptacle',

of a; modified tormot my plugconnecter,'-hav ing a sleeveltype protector disposed-tov be operated when a' connectioni is beingbroken,

Fig. sectional view, taken along the line Ill-III of: Fig; 2,l showing. detailsofa locking! ring provided with operating members which may be"actuatedwhentlie'jumper head and receptacle are moved relativetoi i5 each.l other, VandV tween the cars of an' electric train.

A; further object of my invent-ion is'to pro-A Fig. 2 is a' view,-1n1 longitudinal? section;-

Brrs TUM'P'ER CONNECTER 1929. serial No. 354,285;

, Figgfi is a cross-'sectional View, taken along the line' IV-IV of Fig.- 1,- slrovving the posi` tion of the protector With respect to the con` tact members of the connecter,V when the jumper head is inthe receptacle'.

Fig. 5' isv a view, taken along the yline V"V of Fig. 3, showing the construction of the beveled slots located in the tubular end por-Y tion of the plug connecter.Y f

Referring now to Fig.`1 of the' drawing, 10 designates, generally, a connecting deviceY suitable for coupling buis-line jumpers be: In this* particular form of construction, the' connect` ing device 10,` comprises a plug-type connecter, or jumper head 117 and a receptacle 12; The receptacle 12 iiorms no part of the present inventionfjbut is illustrated merely to' show, in a better Way, the features ofthe plug connecter. The receptacle shown is representa: tive of the form in common use,-being adapted for mounting on a car or` other vehicle.

As shown7 the receptacle 12y comprises al base or `body member 13,havng an extended sleeve portion 14 provided with: an insulating lining15,` which forms a receiving chamber for the plug connecter 11. Itis also provided with a contact-terminal member comprising a Contact support 16and a plurality of contact studs or fingers 17. The contact-terminal member may be retained inY its proper position Within the body member of the receptacle by Vmeans of asleeve-support member 18 of suitable insulating ma# f terial, and fiber locking pins 19 which prevent longitudinal movement of the contact.- terminal member With respect tov the body member 13. Y j

As shown, the receptacle is further pro'- videdv with a cover 20, that is disposed to receive the conductor cable 21 Which may be connected to the Contact support 16 in any Well lrnovvn manner.-

The plug connecter 11 maybe of any de-v sired shape suitable to be utilized) with va contact or socket members 26 which areadapted to receive .the contact studs, or

ngers 17, of the' vreceptacle 12. In this em bodiment of the invention, the'contact-support member 25 is carried within an insulating sleeve 27 which is mounted Within the tubular end portion 24 of the body member 22, as shown.

In order to provide for connecting the socket members 26 to a bus-line jumper, comprising a conductor 28, the handle portion 23 is provided with an opening which communicates with the tubular end portion 24 of the connecter and through which the current conductor or cable may extend. The end of the cable 28 is connected to the contact-support member 25 in any suitable manner and may be further secured in position by utilizing an insulating compound 29 which may be introduced into the hollow interior of the body member 22, through an opening 31 which is closed by a pipe plug 32.

In the use of bus-line connecters of this type, it is often required that the plug connecter shall be removed from the receptacle when the bus-line is energized by acomparatively high voltage, i. e., the bus line may .still be` connected to the trolley or other source of supply for operating the train. Therefore, it will be evident that the operator, in removing jthe plug connecter from the receptacle, may be endangered from current arcs Which are drawn between the disengaging Vcontact members of the plug connecter and the receptacle. Since the body member of the plug connecter is usually of metallic nature, it will be evident that an arc may jump from the contact terminals of the receptacle to the tip of the tubular sleeve portion 24 before the contact members have f parted a Asufficient distance to extinguish the Vmain arc.

vvcurrent arc between any one of the Contact fingers 17 and the tip of the tubular end portion 24.

With a view to providing a more efective protector between the contact terminals 17 and the tip of the tubular end portion 24, provision is made for maintaining an arc shield between these members until the contact members 26 and 17 have become completely disengaged and parted a suicient distance to extinguish the arc which may be In this particular embodiment of the invention, the arc protecto-r comprises a sleeve 35, of insulating material, carried within an annular channel formed by. the Y insulating sleeve 27 and the inside surface of the tubular end portion 24. The protector sleeve 35 is disposed for movement relative to the contact members 26 ofthe plug connector 11. In

order to limit the longitudinal movement of the sleeve member 35, stop members 36 are provided which are disposed to engage in slots 37 in the sleeve member 35. In this instance, the stop members 36 are secured in lthe desired position 0n the tubular-sleeve s receptacle, as shown. Therefore, in this em- Vbodiment of the invention, a suitable coil spring 41 is placed within the annular channel in a position to bias the protector sleeve 35 outwardly to cause it to extend a considerable distance beyond the contact sockets 26 of the plug connecter.

Therefore, it will be evident that when the plug connecter is inserted into the receptacle,

v with the end of the sleeve protector 35 biased to the outer position, the tip 39 of the latter will engage the face 40, of the receptacle 12 before the respective contact members 26 and 17 engage, and is retained in engagement by means o-f the spring 41 until the plug is withdrawn from the receptacle to break a circuit connection.

It is evident that the greatest danger lies in the establishment of a current arc between the energized contact ngers of the receptacle and the body member of the plug cony necter when the latter is removed from a live Y or energized receptacle. Since the tip 39 of the protector sleeve`35 is biased into engagement with the face portion 40 of the receptacle 12, an arc shield isv automatically maintained between the terminal member 17 and the tip of the tubular portion 24, until the circuit is broken. Since the length of the slots 37 in the protector sleeve 35, controlsl the degree of relative movement Ybetvveenthe protector'sleeve 35 ,and ithe'body member' of.r the plug connectensthe: distance interposed between the contaetmembershefore t-he'arc:y be'varied by changing 7 ried bythe plug connecter, it ivillbe readily understood that, when the plug connecter is shield is broken, may

the lengthof the' slots 3f?. f n i. i

:The plug connecter'll may be locked Within the receptacle 12 in anysuitablefmanner:

However, in. this embodimentof the invenf j-tion,the receptacle 12 is provided With a lid I 42, hingedly secured to'ithe base member. 18,;

and provided with la projection 43 on the inner side, which is disposed to :engage a s1milarproj ection 44 Aon-thebody member ofthe `plugconnecter 11': It will be 'readilyunder# stood that the lid '42 must be raised inorder yto admit `the plug connecter andtolrelease itil after it has once been locked in position.

'In the preferred form-ofmy inventionpl -vvhichhas been described inde'tail'hereinbee fore, the projector sleeve, which engages the face of the receptacle to`r provide an arc-box during the insertion and withdrawal ofthe plug connecter, is automaticallycontrolledby 2 L-means of a coil spring which permits the protector sleeve to function ina desired manner f Whenever the plug connecter is inserted With-r` in the receptacle. However, this same principle of protection may be provided byutiliz-` i ing a. protector sleeve Whielris mechanically l n y y if 1 side surface of the tubular sleeve controlled. 7 n

In Figs. 2 and vofthe drawing, isshown a plug connecter provided With a protector sleeve and a. suitable mechanical de'vice'for controlling the operation of the sleeve.; Since the plug connecter, invv this instance, is essen? tially the sanne as that shown infFigl, and

described in detail hereinbefore, with Figs. 2 and-B, similar to those in Fig. l Willbe designated by the same reference numerals.

this vrtype, a suitable locking ring,

plug connecter in areceptacle, and having means provided thereon 1 for mechanically* controlling the operation of the-protectorsleeve. v

such manner than'vfhen it is rotated through a predetermined angle, it Will release theplug" lconnecter from the receptacle and mechani-Y cally loch the protector sleeve into a position to engage the tace of the receptacle ink the? Aoit a biasing spring.; ln thisvieiv, for

tion of the receptacle hasbeen omitted,

it is shown in detail in Fig. l. r Y ln order to lock` the plug connecter Witl since theeX-'v ception that the actuating spring 4l"for the'y .protector sleeve is not shown, lthe parts'in'r back of the protector sleeve 35,Wlien the locking ring ismoved toa releasing position, as

In this embodiment of the invention, the; locking ring 46 is rotatably mounted upon the" sleeve-end portionv 14 of the receptacle `12in*- :of ythe locking ring fis movedy to thevertical position, moves in front of the projection48,

and .retains itin'position.

Since theprotector sleeve -35 is onxthe" body member' ofthe plugconnecter,

loosely carinserted Within the receptacle, thetipj39 ofthe sleeveis actuated into engagement with its l :tace 40.` Inlorder to ,retain'theprotector sleeve in this position until the plug connecten iswvithdraivn a suiicient distance to effect the disengagement of the 'contact members,

provision is made for mechanicallv locking the protector sleeve 1n responseto the movement of the locking' ring to a releasing lposition. i 'f i `Any suitable kind of locking mechanism l engaging positions. The locking members 49' areheld inv their disengaged positions against the force of their actuating springsl, since the locking pins 50 bear directly upon the outportion 240i the plug connecter l1.Av f i In orderto cause the lockingk pins 50 engagel the protector sleeve 35 to retain its tip j 39 in engagement with the-face portion 40 of the receptaclewhen the plug connecter is removed, va pluralityof longitudinal beveled slots52 are provided in the tubular end portol tion 24,-` which permit theflockingjpins 50 to extend into the annular chamber directly shown. The beveled slots '52 in the tubular sleeve portion 24 of the plug connecter -permit the plug connecter'to be vvithdrawnl a distance l equal to therlength of thelslots 52 While the protector sleeve is retained by-'the locking pins`50.

Tvlhen the plugfll is Withdrawn romthe' receptacle 12 to adistance equal to the `length llO of the slots 52,' it will be readily understood that the locking pins 50 will be actuatedoutof engagement With the protector sleeve 35 be cause of the beveling of the edges ofthe slots 52, 'and ivill'move along the outer suri'ace ofA the tubular endjportio'n 24.1 @n further out;v

Ward movement, the stop members Will engage lthe sleeve member 35 at the rear end."`

of the slotsl 37, thereby permitting the com# plete Withdrawal of the plug lO.` As de- 17 andthe body memberof the plug 11, whenl Vscribed hereinbefore, the protector sleeve 35 will' remain 1n engagement With there'cepnf the receptacle l2, the lockingfring 45 is proif vided with a lug 4 7, which,I When 'the' handle .ments of the invention may be made without departing'from the spirit thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawing, shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

I claim as my invention: v Y

l. In a bus-line connecter, in combination, a hollow bodymemberadapted to be inserted in a receptacle, a conductor carried by the body member, a contact-terminal member carried in the end of the body member having its contact terminals connected to the conductor, means inserted within said hollow body member to provide an annular recess extending longitudinally to the end portionrwhich carries the-contact terminalmeinber adapted to receive a sleeve member, and a Vsleeve of insulating material-carried in said annular recess, said sleeve being movable relative to the end of the contact-terminal member to prevent the establishment of anv arc Jfrom the body member to energized contact terminals and to enclose arcs drawn between said terminals when the connecter` is withdrawn 4from a receptacle.

2. In a cable connecter comprising, in combination, a receptacle disposed to be attached to one end of the cable, said receptacle having a face portion with contact members protruding therefrom, and a-sleeve portion en- .an arc which maybe drawn between the contact members when the plug is inserted or removed from the receptacle.

3. In a bus-line connecter, in combination, a receptacle, a terminal member located in said receptacle, a plug adapted to operatively engage-the receptacle and provided with a pair of spaced cylinders forming an annular recess therebetween, a conductor located within the inner of said cylinders, a contact member disposed to engage said terminal member,

said contact member also being located within the inner cylinder and connected to said conductor, an insulating sleeve slidably mounted in said annular recess and disposed to engage said receptacle when the plug is in operative engagement therewith, and means.v

disposedto cooperate with said sleeve for maintaining it in engagementwith said receptacle until theplugis withdrawn therefromto a predetermined distance.

4. In a bus-line connecter, inV combination,

a receptacle, a terminalimember located in said receptacle,a plug adapted to operatively engage' the receptacle andprovided with a pair of spaced cylinders forming an annular recess therebetween, a conductor located within the inner of saidcylinders', .a contact member disposed to engage said terminalmember, said contact member also being located within the inner cylinder and connected to said conductor, an insulating sleeve slidably mounted in said annular recess and disposed to engage said receptacle when the plug is in operative engagement therewith, and a resilient member mounted .in said annular recess and adapted to cooperate with the plug to bias the sleeve into engagement with the receptacle until the plu is withdrawn therefrom to a predetermine distance.

5. In a connecting device, the combination with a receptacle provided with a terminal member anda plug also provided with a terminal member and disposed to engage the receptacle to provide electrical contact between Ythe terminal members, of a slotted c lindrical arc shield slidably mounted on said plug, a plurality of stop members mounted on said plug and in the slots of said shield for limiting-the movement thereof and a resilient member mounted on said plug and disposed to bias saidshield Ato a predetermined position.

6.- In a bus-line connecter, in combination,

a hollow body member adapted to be inserted Vsaid receptacle, and means mounted on said receptacle Vand disposed to cooperate with` said sleeve to maintain it in engagement with said receptacle until the terminal member is withdrawn therefrom to a predetermined distance.

7. In a connecting device, the combination with a receptacle provided with a terminal member and a plug also provided with a terminal member and disposed to engage the receptacle to provide electrical contact between the terminalmembers, of a locking membermounted on said'plug, a rotary locking lever mounted on said receptacle and disposed to cooperate with said locking member to maintain engagement between the plug zal and the receptacle, a slotted cylindrical arc shield slidably mounted on said plug and disposed to engage said receptacle, a plurality of stop members mounted on said plug and in the slots of said shield for limiting the movement thereof, and a plurality of resiliently biased clamping members mounted on said locking lever` and disposed to maintain said arc shield in engagement with said receptacle When the locking lever is moved to the unlocked position until the plug is Withdrawn to a predetermined distance.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 2nd day of April 1929.

AARON L. VAN EMDEN. 

